Halloween Around the Globe

Halloween is derived from "All Hallows Eve", which refers to the night before the Western Christian feast of All Hallows on November 1st. All Hallows starts the beginning of Hallomas, which is a time dedicated to remembering the dead. Halloween started in Celtic countries, like Ireland but has now spread across the globe. In the United States, it is celebrated with trick-or-treating, costume parties, jack-o-laterns and haunted attractions.

How is Halloween celebrated in the rest of the world?!

Hong Kong: Yue Lan 
Also known as Festival of the Hungry Ghosts. This holiday emphasis is less on celebration, rather it is an opportunity to give gifts to spirits of the dead to provide comfort and ward them off. 

                                               Food being offered to the deceased at a Buddhist Temple

Israel: Purim
Israel celebrates a Jewish holiday called Purim. Purim commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire from a plot to destroy them. According to the Book of Esther, Haman, royal vizier to King Ahasuerus, planned to kill all the Jews in the empire, but his plans were foiled by Mordecai and his adopted daughter Queen Esther.The day of deliverance became a day of feasting and rejoicing. Purim is celebrated by giving gifts of food and drink (mishloach manot), giving charity to the poor, and a celebratory meal. Other customs include drinking wine, wearing costumes and public celebration, which is why many people compare Purim to Halloween.The Talmud says to also drink until you can't tell the difference between 'Cursed is Haman, Blessed is Mordechai'.

                                          Hamantaschmen (Haman's Pockets) are cookies that are eaten on Purim
Romania:
Halloween in Romania is celebrated around the myth of "Dracula" on 31 October. The spirit of Dracula is believed to live there because the town was the site of many witch trials; these are recreated today by actors on the night of Halloween. The most successful Halloween Party in Transylvania is taken place in Sighisoara, the citadel where Vlad the Impaler (aka Dracula) was born.

                                                                                       Dracula

Mexico: El Dia de los Muertos
Also known as Day of the Dead. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died.Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars called ofrendas honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts. They also leave possessions of the deceased.

                                                                       Ofrenda de Día de Muertos

What are your Halloween plans?! Let us know in the comments!!